Islam in the Middle East Beginnings of Islam
Islam in the Middle East
Beginnings of Islam n Islam is monotheistic – One God Allah – Followers called Muslims § One who submits (to God) n Founder the Prophet Muhammad – Began in the 7 th century – Revelation from the angel Gabriel
The Spread of Islam n Began in Mecca – Islam’s holiest city n United the bedouin people of Saudi Arabia – Bedouin- desert nomads n Easy to practice – Spread quickly – Trade and war
Five Pillars of Islam n Faith- “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. ” n Prayer- five times a day; face Mecca n Charity- must help poor n Fasting- month of Ramadan n Pilgrimage- to Mecca (hajj)
Qu’ran n Holy Book of Islam n Sayings of Prophet Muhammad – The search for knowledge is a sacred duty imposed upon every Muslim. Go in search of knowledge, even to China.
Mosque n Islamic place of worship n Congregational prayer on Friday
Hajj n Pilgrimage to Mecca – every Muslim must make at least once n Kaaba – Holiest shrine of Islam – Some say it was built by Abraham
n Two main Branches of Islam – Sunni- 83%; found in Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan – Shi’ite- Iran, and some of Iraq and Afghanistan
Cultural Contributions n One Thousand One Nights – Popular stories of adventure and love n Science and Math – Astronomy – Algebra – Zero and Arabic numerals – Windmills
Cultural Contributions n Art – Calligraphy n Architecture – Dome – Arch
The Eastern Mediterranean Chapter 22, Section 2
Religious Holy Places n. Three major religions founded here: –Judaism –Christianity –Islam
Religious Holy Places n. Jewish Presence –Jerusalem is center of modern and ancient homeland –Temple Mount § Western Wall: Wailing Wall, only remaining piece of 2 nd temple which was destroyed in 70 A. D.
Religious Holy Places n. Christian Heritage –Jerusalem is a sacred place centered around the life of Jesus –Crusades
Religious Holy Places n. Islamic Sacred Sites –Jerusalem is 3 rd most holy cities –Dome of the Rock: spot where Muslims believe Muhammad rose into heaven
A History of Unrest n. Ottoman Empire rules from 1520 to 1922 – Sided with Germany in WWI – Fell apart after the war – Britain and France received the lands as part of the war settlement
A History of Unrest n. Legacy of Colonialism –France = Lebanon, Syria –Britain = Jordan, Israel –French played different religious groups against each other
A History of Unrest n. British Control Palestine – Zionism: goal was to create and support a Jewish homeland in Palestine § Jews began buying land settling there – In 1939, Britain began halting Jewish migration into Palestine – Area divided into 2 parts: § Transjordan and Palestine
A History of Unrest n Creating the State of Israel – 1947, UN developed a plan to create 2 nations: one for Arabs, one for Jews – Israel was created on May 14, 1948 – Arab nations immediately invaded – Palestinian Arabs were relocated to the West Bank and Gaza Stripe
A History of Unrest n. Creating Israel continued… –Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) formed in 1960 to regain land for Palestinian Arabs
Modernizing Economies n. Refugees and Civil Wars –Creation of Israel produced a large number of Palestinian refugees §Number about 3. 6 million §Many struggle for food and shelter
Modernizing Economies n. Refugees and Civil Wars –Wars in Lebanon and Cyprus caused economic problems §Lebanon – 1975 to 1976 – 1982, Israel invaded
Modernizing Economies n. Modern Infrastructure – Good climate for citrus crops and many places for tourists to visit – Well located for international connections – Lack infrastructure § Roads rebuilt, new irrigation systems, better communication systems and power sources
The Northeast: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan Chapter 22, Section 3
A Blend of Cultures n Some of the oldest cultures in the world – Developed in Iraq along the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers n Mesopotamia- “land between the rivers” – fertile soil – rivers served as highways to transport goods
n Hittites- empire stretched across present day Turkey – Introduced iron weapons n Persians- developed in present day Iran – Innovations in government copied by many – Divided huge empire into smaller regions for better control
n. Two main branches of Islam: –Sunni- 83%; found in Turkey, Iraq, & Afghanistan –Shi’ite- Iran, & some Iraq and Afghanistan
Clashes Over Land n Clashes over land increased after WWI n Kurds: claim a homeland in parts of Turkey, Iran & Iraq – At end of WWI they were promised a homeland but never received it – Called a stateless nation – Clashes have prevented them from becoming a nation-state n Iranian Kurds
n. Iran: has become home to refugees – Refugees from Iraq & Afghanistan have fled oppressive government – Came here because of location Provide cheap labor force
Reforming Economies n Discovery of conflict of oil in 1908 made Iran center – Powerful nations want control over these resources – Willing to fight for them – Iran & Iraq fought between 1980 -1990 – 1990 -1991: Iraq invaded Kuwait starting Persian Gulf War § US and 32 other nations fought to drive Iraq out of Kuwait & keep oil fields open
n. Turkey & Iran- modernizing economies n. Turkey: tapping into hydroelectric resource –Boosting production of cotton –Ideal location for trade
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